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The Absolute Sound has published their latest online buyer's guide: Top Picks in High-End Audio and Music 2017! The excellent issue includes recommendations and praise for three Vandersteen Audio loudspeakers:... read more

The Absolute Sound has published its list of recommended floorstanding loudspeakers under $3000/pair, and we are delighted to see our classic three-way Model 2Ce Signature II in such fine company!
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Bringing paper cones to a super-speaker today is like bringing a horse and buggy to a Formula One race. Materials and performance have evolved and so must loudspeakers, especially at the high-price super-speaker level. Crucial to avoiding performance-killing distortion in loudspeakers are driver cones rigid enough to remain pistonic throughout their pass band, i.e., the range of frequencies each driver is required to reproduce.

“Pistonic” refers to the motion of the driver cone in response to the audio signal from the driver’s voice coil. If the driver cone stays rigid and moves in and out in truly pistonic fashion, distortion is avoided and the purest replica possible of the signal from the amplifer is produced by the speaker. If any part of the cone flexes or bends in the opposite direction of the signal, part of the cone is out of phase, and distortion is output from the loudspeaker.

In the dramatic video above, Richard Vandersteen talks through a comparison of two midrange driver cones using highly advanced imagery from a Klippel analysis. Klippel allows us to see the cones’ behavior in response to audio signals in real time and evaluate their performance. One cone is Vandersteen Audio’s “Perfect-Piston™” midrange cone, which is a patented ultra-rigid carbon-fiber/balsa core design. The other is a very expensive paper driver cone that is employed in some very high-end speaker designs …

This Is Your Driver Cone On Paper …

What’s truly shocking in this video is that so much audible distortion is readily visible at 1.4kHz with approximately half of the paper cone flexing out of phase. 1.4kHz is of course well within the crucial midrange frequencies this driver cone would be expected to reproduce in any speaker design. This range comprises so much of the soul of the music we love, and the sad truth is that this midrange cone is incapable of faithfully reproducing music in this critical band.

The video shows too that the paper cone is in complete chaos at 5kHz, the middle of the “presence region” of the frequency spectrum. The presence region is above the midrange but well within the overlap region where the midrange driver transitions to a tweeter. This range has a distinct effect on vocals and instruments, as recording and mixing engineers are very aware of.

The types of gross distortions demonstrated in this video are audible not only as a loss of resolution, but also as noise and dynamic compression. When the driver cone motion becomes chaotic, sounds are still produced in the areas of the cone that are in “breakup mode.” But those sounds aren’t related to the musical signal. Sound you can hear that bears no relation to the signal is pure distortion. Or, in a word, just noise. And the paper midrange in the video is producing a LOT of it.

The paper cone distortions demonstrated in the video also soften transient impact and blunt dynamic peaks. Loudspeakers simply cannot deliver full dynamic range when large portions of the driver cones are not moving with the signal in pistonic fashion. The orchestra can no longer play at full power when the loudspeaker’s driver cones are in “break-up mode” and the cone’s motion is chaotic.

Speaker distortions such as these are often explained away as sins of omission. In fact the “lossy” nature of these distortions might smear enough musical information to hide flaws in other components in an audio system. While speakers with paper cones exhibit compromised dynamics, they can often be played VERY loud which fools less experienced listeners into believing they are hearing real dynamic range. But all distortion factors increase as the volume goes up, especially in power amplifiers. There is no free lunch.

These may be acceptable compromises in entry level or mid-fi systems. At Vandersteen Audio, we see no reason on earth to accept compromises like these in statement loudspeakers at high prices.

Vandersteen Audio customers have always demanded more and so has Richard Vandersteen. Richard spent a decade on the R&D that led to Vandersteen’s patented Perfect-Piston carbon-fiber/balsa core driver cones, shown in the video to be truly pistonic and unflappable.

Vandersteen’s Perfect-Piston driver cones are handmade in Vandersteen’s California factory. They debuted in the Model Seven in 2009 and are still used in the Model Seven Mk II, Vandersteen’s current flagship. Driver cones descended directly from these amazing designs are also featured in Vandersteen’s Model 5A Carbon (Carbon Midrange and Tweeter), Quatro Wood CT (Carbon Tweeter), and Treo CT loudspeakers. For home theater enthusiasts, CT versions of the Vandersteen’s VCC-5 center channel and VSM surrounds are coming soon.

The video here dramatically demonstrates the distortion-free pistonic performance of these incredible drivers over a wide range of frequencies. It is not a coincidence that the Model Seven and Seven Mk II are on an unprecedented tear of great press and “Best of Show” accolades that is nearing a decade in duration. Other brands merely claim state-of-the-art components and performance. Vandersteen Audio proves it.

Amazingly, over 100,000 pairs of Models 2s are out there in the world, sold since the speaker went into production in 1977. How GREAT would it be if all of you Model 2 owners out there had a clear path to upgrade to Vandersteen's latest and greatest?

For a limited time- now until December 31st, 2017- participating Vandersteen Audio dealers will offer you up to $500 trade-in value for your Model 2 loudpseakers. Trade-ins are valid toward the Treo and above only.

Contact participating dealers for details. We expect the trade-in offer to make the most sense on Models 2s up through the Model 2CI as they are typically not worth more than $500 on the used market. The Model designation will be visible on the back plate right next to the serial number and are therefore very easy to identify.

Soundstage's Pete Roth now has bought our Model Seven Mk II and M7-HPA amps for his reference system, and you won't believe what he has to say about our flagship powered speaker system!

"The M7-HPA amplifiers have joined my Vandersteen Model Sevens, now upgraded to Mk.II status, to form the backbone of my reference system. The quality of sound I’m hearing from them is beyond what I could have hoped for, let alone expected, even a year or two ago."

This INCREDIBLE review from Hi-Fi Plus' Eric Neff chronicles a reviewer's personal journey from the venerable Model 2 CE Signature to the Treo CT he now owns and listens to every day…

“The Treo CT’s ticked all the boxes and did so at an attainable price point. A sensible price and performance without compromise is the key, here, because once you have shown the new gear to your friends and they have gone home, we all want to be thrilled with what we are hearing when we listen by ourselves. The Treo CT’s will do that for you for many years to come.” -Eric Neff

The Quatro Wood CT not only earned one of Vandersteen's greatest reviews of all time from Positive Feedback Online Editor Dave Clark, but also one of our greatest honors when Dave and his wife Carol couldn't stand to part with the review speakers and bought them. That wasn't all as Dave also selected the Quatro Wood CT as a Brutus Award winner for 2016. Thanks for testifying Dave and Carol!

Join Richard Vandersteen & the crew at HiFi Buys for an enlightening evening featuring jaw-dropping audio presentations and a panel discussion including reps from some of the best brands in the business!

In these times when it seems a challenge to find anything universal, one thing we can all agree on is that our music and home theater systems brighten and restore the zest in our lives. Join us for lighthearted conversation and share your passion with Richard Vandersteen and other HiFi enthusiasts on a most welcomed Spring night in East Tosa.

Audio Alternative will host Richard Vandersteen and the debut of the amazing new Vandersteen SYSTEM NINE. SYSTEM NINE is comprised of Vandersteen's legendary Model Seven Mk II flagship speaker, the liquid-cooled M7-HPA amplifier and the brand-new SUB NINE stereo subwoofer system. SYSTEM NINE is the ultimate Vandersteen experience!

Meet Richard Vandersteen and learn everything you ever wanted to know about Vandersteen Audio (and hi-fi in general) but were afraid to ask! Enjoy an evening of spectacular audio demos and soak in the decades of knowledge Richard will share with all of you.

Make sure to check out Stereophile's 2016 Product of the Year! Vandersteen's Model Seven Mk II and M7-HPA amps were Finalists in their respective Product of the Year categories, and the Model Seven MK II was a Finalist for Overall Product of the year. In addition Editor John Atkinson gave both products Editor's Choice writing:

"Many loudspeakers have pass through my listening room int he last year, but the one I most missed after its return to its manufacturer was this expensive, full-range Vandersteen. Driven by its almost-as-expensive dedicated amplifiers, it produced sound that was consistently to die for.”

"Best attainable sound for a component of its kind ... A Class A system is one for which you don't have to make a leap of faith to believe you're hearing the real thing." -Stereophile, October 2016

Stereophile's October 2016 issue saw Vandersteen Audio's flagship Model Seven Mk II and M7-HPA amplifier recognized as Class A Recommended Components! This best-of-the-best pick is on the strength of Editor John Atkinson's over-the-top May 2016 review of the powered speaker system.

A bass player himself, JA lauded both the extension and transparency of our powered bass, noting that the Vandersteen system made differences between components more audible: "The Vandersteen system was sufficiently transparent in the bass that I could readily hear how the dCS Vivaldi kept the intentionally phat bass-guitar lines better differentiated from the kick drum than did the PS Audio DirectStream DAC, especially when the bassist drops an octave at the start of a phrase."

Hearing that the "high frequencies seamlessly blended with their midrange," JA also noted "delicious solidity to the sound even when the recording was mono ..."

JA concluded his extraordinary string of accolades by praising the system for "true full-range sound, superb transparency and soundstaging, and a magically palpable way with recorded voices."

Our Treo was also included in Class B, so all current Vandersteen products that have been reviewed by Stereophile are Recommended Components!

Dave said so many wonderful things, and in summary said, " ... the Quatros fit the bill for musicality, extended frequency response, dynamically spot on, and being drop dead attractive to look at. Thanks Richard. Much love to you and all at Vandersteen. The CT is a real winner. A real keeper."

Longtime and premier-level Vandersteen dealer Audio Connection of Verona, New Jersey recently hosted an event introducing the new QX-5 Twenty from our friends at Ayre Acoustics. The QX-5 was demoed on Audio Connection's Model Seven Mk IIs and a fine time and beautiful sound was enjoyed by all.

John Rutan and his crew at Audio Connection know how to build systems and can help you get the most out of the stereo you have today and the one you might want tomorrow. Visit the store and hear our best speakers sounding their best!

To read a full report on the event, click HERE to check out Michael LaVorgna's full report fromAudioStream.com. Mike stays fit catching up with all the latest trends in the world of digital audio, downloads, streaming and more! If you get your music from digits, you'll want to keep with AudioStream!

Stereophile's May 2016 issue features a knockout debut for our flagship powered-speaker system, which is comprised of our flagship Model Seven Mk II loudspeaker and the liquid-cooled M7-HPA monoblock power amplifier! JA lauded both the extension and transparency of our powered bass, and concluded an extraordinary string of accolades by praising the system for its "true full-range sound, superb transparency and soundstaging, and a magically palpable way with recorded voices." To wow a seasoned listener like JA to this degree is very gratifying to say the least!

However, regarding the sonics John also said something else very very meaningful to those of us who've long appreciated the spatial detail and "dimensional purity" of Vandersteen speakers. In discussing the expansion of soundstage depth with a particular recording he noted the increased distance between two of the players, saying, "I can only conjecture that that the Vandersteens' time-coherent behavior ... allows the brain to more readily make sense of the aural cues in the recording reconstruct an internal model of the recorded acoustic." Amen!

As wonderful as these accolades are the conclusion is even more extraordinary. Not only is this $114k statement system called out as a value, JA says that in today's uber high-end market this sysem is actually comparable to the performance-driven value proposition of the legendary Model 2!

Read the whole review HERE! Note that the online version has expanded text and many fanstastic images that weren't included in the print version!

This review of our best of the best products are a strong testament to Vandersteen's stature as a technology-driven company that offers its customers extraordinary performance and value across the broadest range of budgets in the industry!

The April 2016 issue of The Absolute Sound features the kind of review that only comes along so often, an absolutely wonderful take on our Treo CT from longtime TAS Associate Editor Neil Gader. The Treo CT was stylishly photographed on the cover and the feature opened on another gorgeous two-page spread. The review opening is a stunner in a somewhat existential sense for TAS writers and readers. the Treo CT is essentially hailed as an exemplar of the “the sound of live, unamplified acoustic music performed in a natural setting- traditionally defined in these pages as ‘the absolute sound’ …” The individual attributes are numerous, and perhaps best summed up to Vandersteen listeners as “he gets it!” We’ll simply refer you to the whole review HERE and leave you with Neil’s conclusion: "... you cannot get a more purely musical loudspeaker in this price range than the Treo CT. A true delight."

Vandersteen Audio's Model Seven Mk II was awarded The Audio Beat's 2015 Product of the Year! TAB's Marc Mickelson presented the award at CES 2016, and we are all extremely gratified, and what a tremendous start to 2016!

TAB's European Editor Roy Gregory wrote a wonderful review last year that wonderfully captured the things that are unique and especially moving about listening to Vandersteens in general, and obviously the flaghsip Model Seven Mk II as the ultimate expression of Richard Vandersteen's speaker design philosophies. If you've not read it yet, you are in for a genuine treat, it click HERE.

Marc Mickelson and other staffers at TAB have listened very carefully to first the Model Seven and then the MK II at many shows. Apparently when Roy thought the Seven Mk II worthy, the rest of the team unanimously agreed!

Below is TAB's Marc Mickelson presnting RV with the award. Thanks again to The Audio Beat for the careful listening, the passion and the accolades!

Meridian MQA-Enabled DAC will also be featured with Vandersteen's liquid-cooled M7-HPA amplifiers, Balance turntable and electronics from Brinkmann Audio, AudioQuests's Niagara 7000 Power and More.

Join Us in Suite 29-201!

Vandersteen Audio will showcase the newly revitalized Model 5A Carbon at CES 2016, finished in stunning Grigio Metallic Alloy automotive paint. Always a tremendous performer, the Model 5A Carbon now ships standard with automotive paint finish, allowing it to visually blend into any domestic environment with grace. The 5A Carbon will be powered by Vandersteen's radical new M7-HPA amplifier.

Sources for this system include ultra-high resolution analog from Brinkmann's flagship Balance turntable and a new and very welcome addition- an MQA-enabled Meridian 818V3 DAC. It's been some years since Vandersteen has demonstrated digital audio, and yes this means we think MQA is something special!

The Audio Beat's Roy Gregory has reviewed our flagship Model Seven Mk II, and we're beyond thrilled! Obviously the review is a rave, but what's truly unique about this review is the command of the language and Roy's ability to cast the emotional sensation of listening to these speakers into words. There is an "it" that our speakers have that everybody who listens to them can hear. Roy casts a brighter light on exactly what this elusive "it" is than any review we've ever read of our speakers!

TAS' Robert Harley knows high-end audio, and knows Vandersteen. Back in the day, he reviewed the original Model 5, and later sung the praises of the original Model Seven in a wonderfully comprehensive and enthusiastic review. Robert swims at the deep end of the high-end audio pool, devoting much of his time and energy as a reviewer to the cutting edge, cost-no-object segment of the hobby. His perspective on the very best of the best is a learned one, as he has so much experience with virtually all of the products that define the current state-of-the-art.

So, when Robert offers praise like "The recent update to Vandersteen’s flagship Model 7 has taken what was already a reference-class loudspeaker to new heights ..." we are rightfully flattered! And all the more so receiving the serious honor of "Best of Show!"

Yes, we are absolutely posting this Blog from Munich High End 2015 for its terrific coverage of our Model Seven Mk II speaker and M7-HPA amplifier. But the entire scope of reportage by Dennis Davis and Roy Gregory is also the best evidence of why we love and support what The Audio Beat is doing. In an audio world full of beige opinions and show reports that too often poorly mimic the travel section of a newspaper, here we find bold opinions and thoughtful discussion of not just the gear plunked down in every room, but the over-arcing trends that define the current state of the hobby. Truly great stuff!

To read about the system we at Vandersteen Audio put together with our friends at Brinkmann Audio, HRS and AudioQuest click HERE.

T.H.E. Newport 2015 Suite 341. Vandersteen Audio will be making its most ambitious showing at T.H.E. yet. Its flagship-level system will showcase both Vandersteen's new flagship speaker, the Model Seven Mk II, and Vandersteen's radical new M7-HPA monoblock amplifiers. Vandersteen's system will be built around a Basis Audio Inspiration turntable with Audio Research Corporation REF-Series front-end electronics, isolation stands and bases from Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) and cabling by AudioQuest.

The original Model Seven has been in constant production for over five years, an unprecedented run during which it's been firmly ensconced as a Stereophile Class A Recommendation, a perennial TAS Editor's Choice winner and has won universal praise from reviewers and consumers around the world.

The improvements with the Model Seven Mk II are driven by the discovery that mechanically altering the “acoustic lens” that surrounds midrange and tweeter aligns the acoustic centers of those drivers just enough to substantially decrease the amount of hand tuning required for the compensation network. The result is even more natural, open sound for a soundstage that is palpably taller, wider and more “3D” in its image focus and specificity. Further improvement was realized by weaving the voice coil leads directly into the spiders of the push-pull subwoofer cones in the powered subwoofer, strengthening the connection between the integral power amplifier and subwoofer, allowing increased linear excursion for even greater bass authority in the subterranean (100Hz and below) frequencies.

The M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) is designed and built from the ground up to maximize the performance potential of Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers, and represents a radical, ground-up rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be. (And should be!) Vandersteen has pioneered the use of subwoofer amplifiers custom-tailored to each speaker design in its powered-bass loudspeakers in conjunction with passive 100Hz high-pass filters for the ultimate performance. When paired with a Vandersteen powered-bass speaker like the flagship Model Seven Mk II, the M7-HPA monoblock forms a complete powered-bass speaker system in which the entire frequency range is driven by perfectly-tailored amplification.

Please join Vandersteen and Optimal Enchantment for great music, great sound and great company!

Vandersteen Audio's Model Seven Mk II Speaker and M-7 HPA Amps Make European Debut at High End 2015!

Vandersteen, Brinkmann & HRS at Atrium 4, E108

The Munich High End show is now the most significant date on the global hi-fi calendar, and Vandersteen Audio will be making its most ambitious showing yet. High End 2015 will mark the European debut of both Vandersteen's new flagship speaker, the Model Seven Mk II, and Vandersteen's radical new M7-HPA monoblock amplifiers. Vandersteen's system will be built around a Brinkmann Audio Spyder turntable with Brinkmann front-end electronics, isolation stands and bases from Harmonic Resolution Systems and cabling by AudioQuest.

The original Model Seven has been in constant production for over five years, an unprecedented run during which it's been firmly ensconced as a Stereophile Class A Recommendation, a perennial TAS Editor's Choice winner and has won universal praise from reviewers and consumers around the world.

The improvements with the Model Seven Mk II are driven by the discovery that mechanically altering the “acoustic lens” that surrounds midrange and tweeter aligns the acoustic centers of those drivers just enough to substantially decrease the amount of hand tuning required for the compensation network. The result is even more natural, open sound for a soundstage that is palpably taller, wider and more “3D” in its image focus and specificity. Further improvement was realized by weaving the voice coil leads directly into the spiders of the push-pull subwoofer cones in the powered subwoofer, strengthening the connection between the integral power amplifier and subwoofer, allowing increased linear excursion for even greater bass authority in the subterranean (100Hz and below) frequencies.

The M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) is designed and built from the ground up to maximize the performance potential of Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers, and represents a radical, ground-up rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be. (And should be!) Vandersteen has pioneered the use of subwoofer amplifiers custom-tailored to each speaker design in its powered-bass loudspeakers in conjunction with passive 100Hz high-pass filters for the ultimate performance. When paired with a Vandersteen powered-bass speaker like the flagship Model Seven Mk II, the M7-HPA monoblock forms a complete powered-bass speaker system in which the entire frequency range is driven by perfectly-tailored amplification.

Please join Vandersteen in Munich for great music, great sound and great company!

We are very gratified to report that the Model Seven Mk II debuted at CES 2015 and was recognized as Best of Show by Marc Mickelson and Paul Bolin at The Audio Beat! The Seven was a hard speaker for Richard, Nathan and the Vandersteen team to improve on, and we appreciate the warm reception from the press immensely. But this award is especially meaningful to us coming from The Audio Beat because their show reports are so detailed full of persepctive. So many show reports are laundry lists of gear, and some Bloggers seem to be racing from room to room as though a quantity of posts is more meaningful to hi-fi enthusiasts than fewer, more thoughtful ones. Not so with Marc and his guys!

Please make a point to read TAB's entire CES 2015 coverage by clicking HERE.

â€‹We are very proud to introduce the Model Seven Mk II, the newest Vandersteen flagship! The original Model Seven has been in constant production for over five years, an unprecedented run during which it's been firmly ensconced as a Stereophile Class A Recommendation, a perennial TAS Editor's Choice winner and has won universal praise from reviewers and consumers around the world. All of which is testament to the fact that it’s a tough speaker to improve upon! However, Richard and Nathan Vandersten, the architects of this ambitious project, found that mechanically altering the “acoustic lens” that surrounds midrange and tweeter aligned the acoustic centers of those drivers just enough to substantially decrease the amount of hand tuning required for the compensation network. The result is even more natural, open sound for a soundstage that is palpably taller, wider and more “3D” in its image focus and specificity.

Although the crucial aspects of the cabinet construction remain, the tighter physical integration of the tweeter/midrange interface creates a more elegant appearance with the grill cloth on, and a look we are pleased to note also increases the visual similarity between the speaker and the upcoming M7-HPA amplifier. Another improvement was realized by weaving the voice coil leads directly into the spiders of the push-pull subwoofer cones in the powered subwoofer, strengthening the conneciton between the integrated power amplifier and subwoofer, allowing increased linear excursion for even greater bass authority in the subterranean (100Hz and below) frequencies.

The Model Seven Mk II is available now at $62,000/pr. US Retail. The original Model Seven can be ordered for 3 months at its current $52,000/pr. Starting March 1st, 2015 the Model Seven will be discontinued and the Model Seven Mk II alone will be the Vandersteen flagship.

Original Model Seven owners wishing to upgrade their speakers can do so. US Retail for the upgrade is $10,000/pr. plus freight one way.

The Model Seven Mk II will be featured in a superlative audio system at CES 2015, Venetian Suite 29-201, comprised of the following:

Richard Vandersteen has announced his fall tour dates. This year's tour is the most exciting in years, and the highlight will be Richard visiting the dealers who demonstrate the flagship Model Seven to personally introduce Vandersteen Audio’s new liquid-cooled M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) monoblock power amplifier. The M7-HPA and a Vandersteen powered-bass speaker combine to form a complete, full-range system in which all of the amplification is perfectly tailored to the speaker's driver components and electronics. This is a complete and radical rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be, and should be, and the revolutionary next step in power amplifier design and loudspeaker performance.

Join Richard on the following dates at the following places to see and hear the M7-HPA and Flagship Model Seven:

Show reports often read like the Travel and/or Leisure sections of a magazine or newspaper; entertaining but less filling. That's why Roy Gregory's RMAF 2014 show report for The Audio Beat is such a refreshing exception! Roy is not a guy who checkes off the boxes by peeking his head in and out of a room. He not only knows the gear used by manufacturers and dealers at a show inside and out, he provides extraordinarily substantive insights based on what he heard last year and this year as well as an educated perspective on how they compare.

Yes, we know this is self serving as we are indeed pleased as punch with Roy's write up of our room at RMAF. But If you read Roy's entire post HERE we think you'll agree it's loaded with this level of knowledge and attention to detail from top to bottom, and that it honors the massive amount of resources the industry and its dealers put into shows like these!

On Saturday, November 1st Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica, CA, will host Richard Vandersteen, who will personally introduce Vandersteen Audio’s liquid-cooled M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) monoblock power amplifier, the revolutionary next step in power amplifier design and loudspeaker performance. Richard will explore the ins and outs of his new amplifier design, which is built from the ground up to maximize the performance potential of Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers and represents a radical, ground-up rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be. (And should be!) Richard will be in the store from 1:00 pm until 5:30pm on Saturday, November 1st. Please RSVP at (310) 393-4434 or optimalenchantment@gmail.com

Vandersteen Audio had another FANTASTIC Rocky Mtn. Audio Fest this past weekend in 2014, and for those of you who couldn’t attend but want more real details about Vandersteen’s showing at RMAF 2014, we’ve prepared our own show report for you. We hope you enjoy this and find it informative!

In addition, we’re using this post to shamelessly promote Vandersteen’s consumer newsletter, the first edition of which will land next week. If you sign up HERE that report will include exclusive information on the new Model Seven, and more. And it’s free!

There’s no consumer show that we do that isn’t in partnership with one of our great dealers, and such is the case with RMAF at which our perennial partner is Rick Duplisea at Audio Alternative in Fort Collins, CO. Rick’s store in Colorado is in a large, two-story home and forget that it’s a store, it’s home to some of the best sound we’ve ever heard anywhere and Rick always does a superb job making killer sound in far more difficult environs at the Denver Tech Center Marriott.

This year’s room was special in featuring so many amazing new products. We at Vandersteen showed an experimental update to the mighty Model Seven, which were powered by the very latest iteration of the M7-HPA liquid-cooled amplifiers, and our friends at Brinkmann Audio debuted a brand-new turntable design called the Spyder that can accommodate up to four (!) tonearms. The table was configured with two arms, with a LYRA Atlas cartridge for stereo and a LYRA Kleos Mono for mono records. Trick! Audio Research provided the preamp and phono stage, while AudioQuest provided all the cabling and HRS the isolation system.

Suite 9030 has been Audio Alternative’s for years, and it’s a big room that was available for Rick because other manufacturers lost interest due to one side of the room being open and sucking out all the bass. However, having EQ’d powered-bass speakers at our disposal we’ve slain this dragon year after year and made killer sound, and this year the sound was far beyond anything we’ve achieved before. It requires a few tricks in setup and bass EQ that aren’t typical- this year we ran the woofer levels hot during the EQ setup to increase the output across the 11 bands knowing the EQ allows much more trim than gain- but we nailed it even better than before.

This year we heard extraordinary transparency with pinpoint imaging and thumping, but totally controlled bass. The tonal purity, inner detail and musical texture was astonishing, and yet the system was completely natural and musically righteous. The micro-level dynamics when vocalists ramped up and down in power was mesmerizing, but overall dynamic contrast was immense! Rick Duplisea has an amazing and eclectic collection of music so we bounced from Diana Krall and Shirley Horn and Ray Brown to the Beatles, Murray Head and XTC and saw jaws drop.

At this show we saw more representatives from other companies in our room than we could believe and received more “best of show” compliments than we have at any other show we can recall. But perhaps the most meaningful compliments came from Rick’s customers, people who have heard Rick’s system at the show year after year. They simply could not believe the improvements they were hearing were due to some minor updates to the Model Seven and the new M7-HPA amplifiers! One of Rick’s customers was shocked to know that the ARC preamp and phono stage were actually a level down in the line from the system that was shown last year!

RV packed the house as he always does in his in-room seminars and informed people how and why he’ been using a high-pass approach to powered bass since the 80’s and how this concept evolved to designing his own High-Pass Amplifiers for use with his powered bass speakers. It was a real education for all who attended!

This is the third time we’ve played these more updated M7-HPA amplifiers, and the results were nothing short of astounding! We haven’t seen the blogs yet, but we are exceptionally pleased with the sound we made and the engagement we saw with show goers in general, and Rick’s customers in particular.

Please Join Audio Alternative Fort Collins and Vandersteen Audio at RMAF 2014, Suite 9030
The system Audio Alternative has assembled for RMAF 2014 is the ultimate expression of resolution, musicality and Dimensional Purity.In addition to the RMAF debut of Vandersteen Audio’s liquid-cooled M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) monoblock power amplifier, the system will also feature an experimental update to the Model Seven loudspeaker. The M7-HPA is designed and built from the ground up to maximize the performance potential of Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers, and together with the Model Seven represents a radical, ground-up rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be. (And should be!)

Enthusiasts can also join Richard Vandersteen for fun and informative in-room seminars that explore the ins and outs of his radical new amplifier design and this latest update to the company flagship.

The system will also boast the North American debut of Brinkmann's new turntable, the Spyder, which is a daring and versatile design that can accommodate up to four (!) 9" - 12" tonearms. The system will round out with Audio Research REFERENCE electronics, isolation by HRS and cabling by AudioQuest.

Join Richard Vandersteen for these in-room seminars at Audio Connection's Fulton Ferry Suite, where Richard will introduce Vandersteen Audio’s liquid-cooled M7-HPA (High-Pass Amplifier) monoblock power amplifier, the revolutionary next step in power amplifier design and loudspeaker performance. Richard will explore the ins and outs of his new amplifier design, which is built from the ground up to maximize the performance potential of Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers and represents a radical, ground-up rethinking of what a power amplifier and speaker system can be. (And should be!)

CNET's resident Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg is knocked out by the sound John Rutan is making at Audio Connection, and called out Vandersteen's Models 1, 2 and Seven specifically as the heart of each respective system he listened to.

The warm glow of tubes- the M7-HPA is a hyrbid design that employs tubes in the input stage. In spite of its complexity the M7-HPA has only four parts (per phase) in the signal path and all of the logic and protection circuitry is analog. NO DIGITAL PROCESSING OR LOGIC OF ANY KIND!!!!

"... by Saturday the system was pulling into the competition as a Best of Show contender, sounding vivid and very dynamic. By Sunday, this had become one of a handful of rooms that were hard to leave."

Speakers were the Model Seven, while Brinkmann showed its new Spyder turntable, along with its Marconi preamp, Edison tube hybrid phono stage and Mono amps. Isolation stands and bases were provided by Harmonic Resolution Systems and cabling by AudioQuest.

The sound was naturally detailed, three-dimensional and rhythmically very alive. Great system!

TAS's Neil Gader was bowled over by our CES system, which included the Model Seven loudspeakers, and the sonic debut of Vandersteen Audio's upcoming M7-HPA liquid-cooled monoblock amps.

Listening to the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" Neil remarked: "the system conveyed a depth, and immersion along the lines of a quasi-surround effect reminded again, who needs more than two loudspeakers?"